There are two components to the complete interpretation of an electrocardiogram (ECG): analysis of the rhythm of the ECG waveforms which are the electrical manifestation of cardiac activity; and analysis of the shape (morphology) of the waveforms in order to diagnose many conditions not related to rhythm. Twelve Lead Electrocardiography: Interpretation and Theory deals solely with this second component, and is aimed at students who already have a familiarity with the analysis of heart rhythms.

Twelve Lead Electrocardiography for ACLS Providers describes a set of discrete building blocks of easily understood electrophysiologic principals, and then allows the reader to deduce what the 12 lead electrocardiogram will look like under various circumstances. There is no memorizing patterns. Instead emphasis is on understanding and deduction. Retention is greatly enhanced, and more importantly, the reader becomes a more competent interpreter of 12 lead ECGs.

The ultimate objective of the text is to enable both cardiologists and non-cardiologists to utilize the 12 lead ECG in daily clinical practice in a competent manner. Cardiology residents, students, emergency physicians and internists, as well as paramedics, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who are called upon to make initial clinical judgements particularly regarding the evaluation of patients with chest pain will all benefit from the information contained within these pages.

Autorentext

Dr D. Bruce Foster has been teaching electrocardiography for years to various audiences including interns, residents, nurses, paramedics, and in recent years, physician's assistants. In large measure because of ACLS classes, most of them already had a pretty good understanding of dysrhythmias, so his teaching was primarily focused on the morphologic interpretation of ECGs. Absent a text on the market with which he was happy, he created his own course, and ultimately committed it to paper in the form of the first edition.

Zusammenfassung
If you are a cardiologist or have a photographic memory,you may not need Dr.Foster's new book.But,for the rest of us on the front lines of emergency care,it is a valuable resource that you will want to have by your side at work. I have had the first edition of this book by my station in the emergency department for ten years now.I use it everyday for teaching house staff and often turn to it for reference myself. For those of us without perfect memories,Dr.Foster's clinical approach is ideal. He has the knack of making the complex simple. He does not expect the reader to memorize every squiggle on the page; instead he inspires understanding by giving readers the tools they need to comprehend why ECGs look the way they do.When a resident comes to me with an ECG,I do not have to spend ten minutes delivering a confusing explanation.I just open Dr.Foster's book to the right page and hand it to the resident for review. The book is organized so that you can turn to the relevant chapter and instantly know what the differential diagnosis might be.His selection of case studies covers the vast majority of the ECGs you will be called on to read in any sort of emergent situation; anything else can wait for the cardiologist.

Inhalt
Essential Cardiac Anatomy and Physiology as It Relates to the Electrocardiogram.- Electrocardiographic Waveforms.- Cardiac Vectors and Lead Systems.- Derivation of the Normal Electrocardiogram.- Electrical Axis.- Intraventricular Conduction Delays: The Hemiblocks.- Intraventricular Conduction Delays: The Bundle Branch Blocks.- Chamber Enlargement.- Myocardial Infarction.- Ischemia and Anginal Syndromes.- The Electrocardiogram and the Clinical Evaluation of Chest Pain.- The Advanced Cardiac Life Support Provider and Therapeutic Interventions in Acute Myocardial Infarction.- Miscellaneous Conditions.- Case Presentations.